On the eve of an unusual pre-primary debate in Philadelphia between U.S. Senate hopefuls Pat Toomey, the Republican former congressman, and U.S. Rep. Joe Sestak, who is challenging Specter for the Democratic nomination, comes this blockbuster admission from Pennyslvania's former Republican U.S. Senator.

The admission, and partial apology for Santorum's endorsement in 2004 of Specter during Republican primary, could recalibrate the dynamics of this hotly contested race.

"I got a commitment from Arlen Specter that no matter who George W. Bush would nominate, he would support that nominee."

According to the Washington Post and Talking Points Memo, which first carried reports of the speech, Santorum appeared willing to clarify why, during the closing days of the tight 2004 race between the incumbent, Specter, and the hard-charging challenger, Toomey, that Santorum and Bush came through with an endorsement that helped propel Specter to victory by a very narrow margin.

"You questioned my judgment, and you have every right to do so. But please don't question my intention to do what's right for those little babies,'' said Santorum, the conservative who lost to U.S. Sen. Bob Casey yet who is now seeking to ride a GOP base surge of conservative primary voters who want to assert a conservative agenda.

"Rick Santorum's stunning confirmation that Arlen Specter sold his influence as Chairman of the Judiciary Committee for a political endorsement should be extremely troubling to Pennsylvanians,'' Sestak said Saturday.

Sestak has failed to gain traction against Specter, who is backed by Democratic Party leaders in Pennsylvania and the White House. However, Sestak has $5 million to mount a TV ad campaign, which will kick in close to the May 18 primary to counter Specter's relatively high negativity ratings.

With this tactic,Sestak hopes to close the gap -- much the way Toomey did in the closing days of the 2004 GOP primary.

"There are few people in this nation who have a greater impact on the lives of the American people than the men and women who serve lifetime appointments on the Supreme Court. For Arlen Specter to take his marching orders from Rick Santorum and George W. Bush and pledge to support any nominee -- no matter how partisan, no matter how unqualified -- in order to win an election is a stunning betrayal of his duty as a public servant. This is one of the most glaring of the many red flags in Specter's record that he is willing to put his own political survival over his principles and his duty to the people,'' Sestak said.

Sestak and Toomey are due to appear at a debate Sunday night at La Salle University which will be aired on PCN.

Sestak had called on Specter to debate him in Pennsylvania's six different media markets. The five-term incumbent declined and will only debate Sestak on May 1. However, Sestak and Toomey will engage in their second head-to-head debate, despite poll numbers that show Sestak trailing Specter by 20 points for the Democratic nomination.

Toomey spokeswoman Nachama Soloveichik said the debate is useful for Toomey, who is expected to be the GOP nominee.

"Pat believes debates are important and the perfect opportunity to share his views about the disastrous path Washington is on and his solutions for fixing the economy. Both Specter and Sestak are rubber stamps for the economic extremism coming from Washington, but at least Sestak is willing to stand up for his views rather than shifting in the wind, and we respect that,'' Soloveichik said.

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